CONTEXTS. 



Page. 



Physical features of the island 7 



Climatic conditions 8 



Temperature aud rainfall 8 



Soils 11 



The introduction of tobacco 12 



Laying out an estate 13 



Initial expenditures 15 



Annual expenses 16 



Buildings and their location 16 



Chinese coolies and their management 18 



Preparation of the ground by coolies 19 



Superintendence of the coolies 20 



The dryiug sheds 21 



Planting and cultivating 22 



Setting out the plants 23 



Shading the young plants 24 



Punishment for cheating 25 



Stirring the soil and watering 25 



Diseases of the plants 26 



Fertilizers 26 



Topping and ripening 27 



Worming 27 



Saving seed 28 



C utting and housing 28 



Hanging and curing 29 



Stripping and bundling 30 



Fermenting 31 



Sorting 33 



Baling 34 



Prices and profits 35 



Growing Sumatra tobacco in Florida 36 



Appendix — Statistics 37 



ILLUSTRATION'S. 



Page. 



Map of island of Sumatra, showing tobacco district Frontispiece 



Fig. 1. Diagram showing arrangement of fields and sheds on tobacco estate. . . 14 



2. Ground plan of fermenting shed 17 



3. Front elevation of drying shed 21 



5 



